At the bottom of this blog is a list of what I played on the air last night (8/22). If you missed the broadcast the MP3 will be available for download (free) at www.easy-ed.net later this weekend.
Right after the show I zipped (as much as one possibly can zip in Boston traffic) down to the Midway for the first of the two Alvis shows.
I was running late but managed to get my DJ stuff set up in time to get going at 9:30. Lots of fun, and it was great to see so many familiar faces, in the band and audience. It felt a little like a Cranktones show circa '96! The "I Like Alvis" pins designed by Kathy W. were a hit.
The Midway was packed and boppin' by the time Alvis took the stage at 11:00. The FTW Band, clad in white and donning "FTW" lightning bolt necklaces, was fantastic. I was happy to see Vic from Boston Rockabilly Music Conspiracy playing keyboards. My good buddy Stan (Cranktones, Spurs) was on drums. In addition to bass brillance, Jimmy from Rocky Velvet is a master of disguise: His Jerry Schiff tribute costume actually scared the hell out of me. Billy Coover was perfect on guitar and the horn section was great. The Nutri-Sweet Sensations sounded great, were obviously having a blast, and were fun to watch. As for Alvis himself, I'm having a rib cage hangover today. I have not laughed myself into literal pain in a long, long time. His personal security guards (Sonny and Red) helped keep hysterical females from bringing the show to a halt during the sweaty scarf distribution ceremonies.
I got home at 2:30 (earlier than predicted), and the whole thing repeats itself tonight.
Scobiwan had his cameras going, so I hope some of this will be captured for youtube. I'll keep you posted on that.
This past Wednesday I was DJing at River Gods in Cambridge with P.J. Eastman. A very different kind of night, but what a great time. That little club has a very special atmosphere that I can't adequately capture in writing. It's dark and cozy and consistently welcoming. Both P.J. and Jason play great stuff. I'd be there every Wednesday (if I didn't work every Thursday bright and early). That said, River God Wednesdays are a night out worth losing sleep over.
We're really looking forward to the Red Hot and Blue Festival in Montreal next weekend.
Rockabilly, dancing, great bands--that's for me!
Bill Hunt from Cow Island Records emailed me a preview track by the Dixons (see the picture in this blog) and I played in on last night's show.
The song is "Please Don't Stop Lovin' Me" and it's top-shelf honky tonk. I hope the new record will also include "Lonesome Side of Me." That's the first one I heard by them and it continues to blow the top of my head off every time I play it. These guys will be at Church in Boston on 10/4 for the Cow Island record showcase. The Swinedells--another band that's on my mind a lot--will also play that night, along with Preacher Jack. (One of the last records I played at the Midway last night was "Who Will The Next Fool Be" by Charlie Rich. The Swinedells do it as an R&B ballad. Amazing.)
Also great to see Laika & the Cosmonauts will be here in October, also at Church in Boston. I liked that club better when it was The Linwood and had lots of cigarette butts ground out on the linoleum, but if Church will keep getting good shows on the schedule I'll have good reason to get nominally reverent.
--Easy Ed
The Roundup Boys "Whirlwind Mary" from Various: Perfect for Parties, Vol. 2 on Rhythm Bomb Records — www.myspace.com/theroundupboys
The Rollin' Pins "Madi Jane" from That's Life on Ropin' Records — www.MySpace.com/johnnycarlevaleandtherollin39pins
Ray Harris "Green Back Dollar (alternate take)" from Various: Essential Sun Rockabillies, Vol. 5 on Charly Records
Gene Vincent "Dance to The Bop" from Various: The Big D Jamboree Live, Vols. 1 and 2 on Dragon Street Records
The Bourbonaires "Too Much Trouble" from A Shot of Bourbonaires on Howlin' Records — See the Swinedells at Church in Boston, 10/4
The Shake Em Ups "Broken Heart" from Various: The Wildest on Wild Records
The Dave and Deke Combo "Moonshine" from There's Nothing Like an Old Hillbilly on There's Nothing Like an Old Hillbilly — www.myspace.com/daveanddekecombo
Billy Starr "Hound Dog" from Various: Gravy Train on El Toro Records
Jimmy and Walter "Easy" from Various: A Sun Blues Collection on Rhino Records — Background/ambient
Clarence Green and The Rhythmaires "Crazy Strings" from Various: Texas Music, Vol. 1 on Rhino Records — Background/ambient
The Texas Truoubadours "Honey Fingers" from Ernest Tubb's Fabulous Texas Truoubadours on Decca LP — Background/ambient
The Dixons "Please Don't Stop Lovin' Me" from Please Don't Stop Lovin' Me — A preview track from their forthcoming LP on Cow Island Music. See the Dixons at Church in Boston on 10/4. www.myspace.com/thedixonshonkytonk
Bob Gallion "I Want Her Blues" from Out of a Honky Tonk on Bear Family Records — MGM Records 1957
The Delmore Brothers "Mobile Boogie" from Freight Train Boogie on Ace Records
The Miller Sisters "Someday You Will Pay" from Various: Defrost Your Heart: Sun Country, Vol. 1 on AVI
Don Helms "Big News" from Various: Nashville Steel Guitar on Starday Records — Don Helms (February 28, 1927 - August 11, 2008) was a steel guitarist best known as a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys group.He was featured on over 100 Hank Williams recordings.
Bill Browning "Down in The Holler Where Sally Lives" from Various: Texas Gold: The Starday Story, Vol. 3 on Texas Gold
Gene O'Quin "(You're Gonna Have to Stop) That Low Down Running Around" from Gene O'Quin: Boogie Woogie Fever on Bear Family — Capitol Records 1950
Jack Hardy and The Ranch Boys "Oh Babe!" from Various: Gravy Train on El Toro Records
The Swift Jewel Cowboys "Bug Scuffle" from Various: Western Swing: Hot Hilbilly Jazz and Blues on Living Era — Background/ambient
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys "Blue Bonnet Rag" from San Antonio Rose on Bear Family Records — Background/ambient
Luke McDaniel "Go Ahead Baby" from Various: That'll Flat Git It! Vol. 16 on Bear Family Records — Sun Records 1957 (originally unissued)
Ray Anthony "Hambone" from Various: Sun Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 1 on Charly Records
Glen Honeycutt "Rock All Night" from Various: Rock Boppin' Baby: Sun Rockabilly, Vol. 3 on AVI Records — Sun Records 1956 (originally unissued)
Charlie Rich "Break Up" from Various: Rock! Rock! Rock! on Mojo — Phillips International 1960
Ronny Lofton & the Damangos "El Diablo" from Various: Strictly Instrumental, Vol. 6 on Buffalo Bop — Background/ambient
Bernie Moore "Rock, Guitar, Rock" from Various: Strictly Instrumental, Vol. 6 on Buffalo Bop — Background/ambient
The Royals "Are You Forgetting" from Various: Jiving Jamboree, Vol. 3 on Ace Records — Federal Records 1952
Ella Mae Morse "Yes, Yes I Do" from Razzle Dazzle on Rev-Ola
Lil Millet "Rock Around The Clock" from Various: Jiving Jamboree, Vol. 2 on Ace Records
Lee Allen "Boppin' at The Hop" from Various: Bump, Jump, Jive on Lucky Records
Bobby Comstock "Jealous Fool" from Various: Rock And Roll Dance Party, Vol. 2 on RRDP
Billy Boyd "Diggin' The Blues" from Jerry Cole: Hot Rod Twangin' on Ace Records — Background/ambient
Sil Austin "I'm Back" from Everything's Shakin' on Mercury LP — Background/ambient
Bloodshot Bill "Hide 'n' Seek" from Trashy Greasy Rockin' Billy on Flying Saucer Records — http://www.bloodshotbill.com/
Kenny Parton & the Jones Boys "Jump, Wiggle And Shake" from Various: Kicksville! Vol. 3 on Norton Records
Gene Summers "Nervous" from School of Rock and Roll on Collector Records
Wanda Jackson "Hard Headed Woman" from Wanda Jackson: Right or Wrong on Bear Family — Capitol Records 1961
Mike Waggoner & the Bops "Guitar Man" from Various: Speed Crazy on Speed Records
Sleepy LaBeef "Ride On Josephine" from Various: Hot Rod Rumble on Buffalo Bop — See Sleepy LaBeef at Red Hot and Blue next weekend! http://www.rockabillyjam.com/
The Champs "Turnpike/The Rattler" from The Champs: The Early Singles on Ace Records — Background/ambient
Laika & the Cosmonauts "Zunami" from Zero Gravity on Upstart Records — Coming to Church with Los Straitjackets, 10/28
Laika & the Cosmonauts "Six Seconds in Dallas" from Instruments of Terror on Upstart Records — http://www.laikaandthecosmonauts.com/
Los Straitjackets "Beach Bag" from Supersonic Guitars in 3-D on Yep Roc Records — http://www.straitjackets.com/
The Sadies "The Side Track" from Tales of the Rat Fink Original Soundtrack on Yep Roc Records — http://www.thesadies.net/
The Rumblers "It's a Gas" from Various: Surf Legends (And Rumors) on Garland — Background/ambient
The Flatfoot Shakers "Boppin' All The Time" from High Heeled Lovin' Machine on Tagalong Records — www.myspace.com/flatfootshakers
Los Straitjackets "Perfidia" from Play Favorites on Yep Roc Private Stock
